Tube coupling



Sept 9, 1941 J. BERGER ET AL 2,255,593

TUBE CUPLING Filed Jan. 18, 1940 /nve'no/s` J. Berger R, Vaise ByVZUrwLlen Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEHohenneuendorf,

near Berlin,

and Willy Zurmhlen, Wandlitz, near Berlin, Germany, assignors toMichigan Patents Corporation,

Jackson, Mich.

Application January 18, 1940, Serial No. 314,399 In Germany June 16,1939 Claims.

This invention relates to a pipe coupling wherein closure valves areprovided in both coupling members, the valves being held open when thecoupling is closed and being closed when the parts are uncoupled.

Most of the known tube couplings have the draw-back that when thecoupling parts are separated, losses of the hydraulic liquid occur. Whenthe coupling parts are joined together air enters the coupling and movesfrom there into the tubes connected therewith. 'I'his has thedisadvantage that the transfer of control movements by means of thehydraulic liquid is rendered practically impossible, since the air ishighly compressible, in contradistinction to the hydraulic medium.Further, the known couplings have the drawback that they are verycomplicated and expensive in the manufacture.

We have now discovered that couplings without the drawbacks referred tocan be produced in a simple manner by arranging within each of the twocoupling parts a longitudinally displaceable sleeve or the like slidablemember. When the coupling parts are pressed together, the sleeve isforced inwardly into its coupling part against the action of a spring.The spring presses against an abutment in the coupling member andthereby forces through the intermediary of a pin and slot connection thevalve closure member, preferably a seated valve flap, into its openposition. The valve is closed when the coupling is released. Thisclosing movement of the valve flap is effected by means of the springand with the aid of the pin and slot connection above referred to.

Preferably, the coupling is so designed that when it is closed the twovalve closure members abut on each other. Further, it is advisable toconstruct the coupling so that the opening movements only commence whenthe coupling parts already abut on each other in a pressure-tightmanner, and that the coupling can only be separated when the valveclosure members are in their closed position.

In order to hold the coupling parts together a bayonet joint isprovided. The bayonet joint is so designed that the one coupling memberis surrounded by a preferably externally knurled sleeve with a slot,while the other coupling member provided with a securing flange has abayonet stud which iits the slot.

The two coupling members may be provided with screw threads forconnecting them with flexible hose.

Further features of the invention will be evident from the followingdescription of a. preferred embodiment of the invention taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a coupling according to the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the coupling of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I and 2 are the two coupling members. The endof coupling member I faces the point of separation of the coupling andengages over coupling member 2 in such a manner that the latter isaxially displaceable within coupling member I. The abutment surfaces ofcoupling parts I and 2 serve as stops and limit the relationdisplacement of the coupling members I and 2. Packing 3 is providedbetween adjacent end faces of parts I and 2 and prevents the escape ofliquid when the coupling is closed. Annular shoulder 4 is provided onthe outer surface of coupling member 2. Sleeve 5 having a knurled outersurface engages coupling part I as well as coupling part 2 when thecoupling is closed. Sleeve 5 is provided at its end directed towardspart 2 with an inwardly directed flange which engages in a groove which,on the one hand, is formed by shoulder 4 of coupling part 2 and, on theother hand, by spring ring I0 located in a groove in part 2. Shoulder 4and ring I0 are spaced from each other to such an extent that the flangeof sleeve 5 which engages between them and thereby sleeve 5 itself canbe displaced in the axial direction.

Angular bent slot 1 in sleeve 5 coacts with pin 6 which is mounted inpart I and projects outwardly therefrom in a substantially radialdirection. Pin 6 and slot 1 cooperate with each other in the manner ofthe known bayonet joint.

Fastening flange 8 is provided on coupling member I. Flange 8 isprovided with bores 9 serving to receive iixing bolts. II and I2 areidentical sleeves, one of which is axially slidable in coupling part Iand the other in coupling paril 2.

Since the construction of the hereinafter described valve and itsactuating means is exactly the same in the case of the coupling part Ias in the case of the coupling part 2, only one valve and its actuatingmeans will be described. In order to show individual bearing andsupporting parts more clearly, various members of the valve mechanism ofcoupling part 2 are not illustrated A cup-shaped abutment I3 is arrangedin the interior of coupling part I as well as coupling part 2. AbutmentI3 is rigidly connected to parts I and 2, respectively by means of wallsI4. Walls I4 are provided with an opening passing therethrough, thepurpose of which will be apparent hereinafter. The opening of abutmentI3 faces the point of separation of the coupling and serves forreceiving and as abutment for helical spring I5. The other end of springI5 has an abutment in cavity I6 ln projection I1 of axially displaceablesleeve II and is supported thereby. Projection I1 of sleeve II continuesas projection I8 which extends towards the point of separation of theqoupling. Slot I9 is provided in projection I8 and serves as a guide forstud -2li which coacts with slot I9 in a manner which will bsubsequently described. Stud 20 is mounted in cheeks 2I of a forkrigidly mounted on valve body 22. Projection I8 engages between cheeks2I of the fork. Cheeks 2| of the fork are mounted by means of hinge 23on carrier 24, which in turn passes through axially displaceable sleeveII and is rigidly mounted on coupling part I. The end of carrier 24which is not connected to hinge 23 passes through the above mentionedopening formed in supporting walls I4 of cup I3. Furthermore, carrier 24is provided with shoulders 25 and 26 bearing against adjacent faces ofcup I3 or coupling part I and prevent more particularly any axialdisplacement of carrier 24.

Sleeves II and I2 are provided with projections 21 at their ends whichface each other and which, when the coupling is closed, bear againsteach other. Projections 21 form valve seats cooperating with valve flaps22.

U-section packings 28 are located in groovesI in coupling parts I and 2and prevent the outflow of fluid when the coupling is released.

The coupling. operates as follows:

When coupling parts I and 2 are completely separated from each other,helical spring I5 forces valve flap 22 upon its seat through theintermediary ofv the pin and slot connection I9, 2|l. This isaccomplished in the following manner. Sleeve II is displaced in adirection towards the point of separation of the coupling and valve flap22 is turned positively about the axis of hinge 23 by the engagement ofslot I9 with stud 20 until flap 22 bears rmly on its seat 21. OW-f ingto the closure of flap 22, the pipe which is connected to coupling partI is shut off in a pressure tight manner. The closure of the pipeconnected with coupling part 2 is effected in exactly the same manner.

` If the coupling is to be closed, then coupling parts I and 2 arebrought together so that their end faces bear against each other,springs I5 being gradually compressed. Simultaneously the end faces ofaxially displaceable sleeves II and I2 are forced further and furtherinto their surrounding coupling parts I and 2, respectively. Due to thedisplacement of sleeves II and I2 slots I9 turn stud 20 around the axesof hinges 23 to such an extent that valve flaps 22 are thereby swunginto their open position.

After valve flaps 22 have been completely opened, coupling parts I and 2are held together by means of bayonet joint 6, 1.

In order to release the coupling, the procedure is such that rst of allthe bayonet joint 6, 1 is released, whereupon springs I5 tend todisplace sleeves II and I2 in the direction of the point of separationof the coupling. During the displacement of sleeves I-I and I2 valveflaps 22 are swung into their closed position. After the complete andfluid-tight closure has been effected, coupling parts I and 2 arecompletely separated from each other.

What we claim is:

l. A pipe coupling comprising in combination two coupling members, avalve closure member in each of said two coupling members, a sleeve ineach of said coupling members adapted to be displaced longitudinallytherein and provided with a valve seat for said valve closure member, abiasing spring mounted in each of said coupling parts and urging saidslidable sleeve outwards, said valve closure member being pivotallyconnected with said sleeve as to be pressed against its seat to closeeach coupling member when said sleeve moves outwards, while moving intoits inoperative position when said sleeve is pressed inwards by pressingsaid coupling members against each other.

2. A pipe coupling comprising in combination two coupling members, avalve flap in each of said coupling members, a sleeve in each of saidcoupling members adapted to be slidably displaced longitudinallythereof, each of said sleeves being provided with a seat for said valveflap, a spring mounted in each of said coupling members and pressingsaid sleeves outwards, each of said flaps having a fork-shaped extensionprovided with a pin, each of said sleeves having a projection arrangedbetween the cheeks of said fork-shaped extension, said projection havinga slot engaging with the pin in said fork-shaped extension, said flapsbeing pressed against their seats when said sleeves are forced outwardsto close each coupling member preparatory to disengaging said couplingmembers, while moving into their inoperative position substantially atright angle-sl to their closed position when said sleeves are pressedinwards upon engaging said coupling members.

3. A pipe coupling comprising in combination two coupling members, asleeve in each of said coupling members adapted to be displacedlongitudinally therein and provided with a valve seat, a valve carriersecured to each of said coupling members and extending through saidsleeve, a valve closure member in each of said two coupling memberspivoted on said valve carrier and cooperating with said valve seat, eachof said valve closure member being pivotally connected with one of saidsleeves, a biasing spring mounted in each of said coupling parts andurging said slidable sleeve outwards to press said valve closure memberagainst its seat to close each coupling member, said valve closuremember moving into its inoperative position substantially at rightangles to its `closed position when said sleeve is pressed inwards bypressing said coupling members against each other.

4. A pipe coupling comprising in combination tw-o coupling members, avalve flap in each vof said coupling members to prevent the escape ofuid when the coupling members are disengaged, a sleeve in each of saidcoupling members adapted to be slidably displaced longitudinallythereof, each of said sleeves ybeing provided with a seat for said valveflap, a cup-shaped member on each of said coupling members, anothercup-shaped abutment on each of said sleeves, a spring mounted in each ofsaid cup-shaped members and its cup-shaped abutment to press saidsleeves outwards, each of said flaps having a forkshaped extensionprovided with a pin, each of said sleeves having a projection arrangedbetween the cheeks of said fork-shaped extension and having a slotengaging with the pin in said fork-shaped extension, said iiaps beingpressed against their seats to lie closely adjacent to each other whensaid sleeves are forced outwards to close each coupling member, whilemoving into their opening position when the opposite faces of saidcoupling members abut on each other.

5. A pipe coupling comprising in combination two coupling members, avalve closure member in each of said two coupling members, a sleeve ineach of said coupling members adapted to be displaced longitudinallytherein and provided with a valve seat for said valve closure member, abiasing spring mounted in each of said coupling parts and urging saidslidable sleeve outwards, each of said valve closure members beingpivotally connected with one of said sleeves as to be pressed againstits seat to close each coupling member when said sleeves move outwards,said valve closure members being closely adjacent to each other whenthey are pressed against their seats, while moving into their openingposition when the opposite faces of said coupling members abut on eachother, the separation of said two c'oupling members being only possiblewhen said Valve closure members are in their closing position, a pin onone of said coupling members extending radially outwards therefrom, theother one of said coupling members having a sleeve rotatably mounted onthe outside thereof, said outer sleeve having an angularly bent slottherein adapted to receive and lock said pin to prevent axialdisplacement of said coupling members with regard to each other whensaid pin is locked in said slot.

JULIUS BERGER.

RUDOLF KAISER.

WILLY ZURMHLEN.

